Compression system

ABSTRACT

Provided is a compressor system. The compressor system includes: compressors receiving a first fluid from outside and compressing the first fluid; a motor receiving an electric current from outside to drive the compressors; a gear unit for connecting the compressors to the motor; a turbine generating a driving power from a second fluid that has exchanged heat with the first fluid that is discharged from the compressors; and a connection unit directly connected to the turbine and the gear unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The inventive concept relates to a system, and more particularly, to a compressor system.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a compressor system receives a fluid from outside to compress the fluid, and supplies the fluid to an external device performing processes via a compressed fluid. Here, the compressor system may include a compressor, and a temperature of the fluid that has passed through the compressor may rise. The fluid, the temperature of which has risen, is supplied to the external device to drive the external device. In particular, the fluid supplied to the external device as described above may be used in a state where the temperature of which is decreased while passing through a cooler of the external device. Here, most of energy used in the compressor is used to raise the temperature of the fluid, and thus, the most of energy used in the compressor may be discharged to outside through a thermal exchange in the cooler.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT Technical Problem

Therefore, various methods may be used to increase efficiency of a compressor system as above. In particular, the compressor system may recover waste heat of a compressor by installing an organic rankine cycle system that recovers thermal energy from a fluid discharged from the compressor and supplies electric energy to a motor driving the compressor. Here, a general compressor system as described above has been disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2011-012659 (Title of Invention: Compressor, Applicant: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.).

Technical Solution

One or more embodiments of the inventive concept provide a compressor system capable of operating a compressor by utilizing waste heat.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a compressor system including: a compressor receiving a first fluid from outside and compressing the first fluid; a motor receiving an electric current from outside to drive the compressor; a gear unit for connecting the compressor to the motor; a turbine generating a driving power from a second fluid that has exchanged heat with the first fluid that is discharged from the compressor; and a connection unit directly connected to the turbine and the gear unit.

Advantageous Effects

According to the embodiments, operating efficiency of a compressor system may be improved by recovering waste heat from a first fluid that is discharged from at least one of a first compressor and a second compressor.

According to the embodiments, a rotating force of a turbine that operates when recovering waste heat is transferred to a rotating shaft via a mechanical coupling structure, instead of driving a motor by generating electric energy after recovering the waste heat from the first fluid, and thus, a structure may be simplified and loss of energy caused according to energy conversion may be minimized.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a compressor system according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operating state of the compressor system of FIG. 1.

BEST MODE

According to an aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a compressor system including: a compressor receiving a first fluid from outside and compressing the first fluid; a motor receiving an electric current from outside to drive the compressor; a gear unit for connecting the compressor to the motor; a turbine generating a driving power from a second fluid that has exchanged heat with the first fluid that is discharged from the compressor; and a connection unit directly connected to the turbine and the gear unit.

The compressor system may further include a thermal exchanger, in which the first fluid discharged from the compressor and the second fluid exchange heat, for supplying the second fluid that has exchanged the heat to the turbine.

A plurality of the compressors and a plurality of thermal exchangers may be provided, and each of the plurality of thermal exchangers may be arranged on a flow path through which the first fluid discharged from each of the plurality of compressors passes.

The compressor system may further include a condenser for condensing the second fluid discharged from the turbine.

The compressor system may further include a pump for supplying the second fluid discharged from the condenser to the thermal exchangers.

The condenser may receive cooling water from outside, and condense the second fluid through heat exchange between the second fluid and the cooling water.

The turbine may include: a case in which the second fluid is introduced; and a blade provided in the case and rotating according to a flow of the second fluid supplied in the case.

The blade may rotate at a constant speed.

The gear unit may include: a first gear rotating in direct connection with the motor; a second gear provided on a rotating shaft of the compressors and rotating in connection with the first gear; and a third gear provided on the connection unit and rotating in connection with the first gear.

The compressor system may further include a gear box provided to surround at least a part of the gear unit and the connection unit.

The compressors may include: a first compressor operating according to movement of the first fluid introduced from outside; and a second compressor rotating coaxially with the first compressor and operating by receiving the first fluid discharged from the first compressor.

The compressor system may further include a guide vane for controlling an amount of the first fluid introduced into the compressors.

The compressor system may further include a control valve for controlling an amount of the second fluid supplied to the turbine.

Mode of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept are shown. This inventive concept may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept to one of ordinary skill in the art. The spirit and scope of the inventive concept is defined by the appended claims. The terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe particular embodiments, and are not intended to limit the inventive concept. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated components, steps, operations, and/or devices, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations, and/or devices thereof. It will be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These components are only used to distinguish one component from another.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a compressor system 100 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the compressor system 100 may include a compressor 110 that receives and compresses a first fluid from outside. Here, the compressor 110 may be the same as or similar to a compressor according to a prior art, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

There may be a plurality of compressors 110. Here, the number of the compressors 110 may vary. For example, the number of the plurality of compressors 110 may be 2, 4, 6, etc. In particular, if there are four or more compressors 110, pairs of compressors 110 may be arranged in parallel, and may be respectively connected to a gear unit 150 that will be described later. However, hereinafter a case in which the number of the compressors 110 is two will be described in detail, for convenience of description.

In detail, the plurality of compressors 110 may include a first compressor 111 that operates according to movement of the first fluid introduced from the outside. In addition, the plurality of compressors 110 may include a second compressor 112 that rotates coaxially with the first compressor 111 and receives the first fluid discharged from the first compressor 111 to operate.

In addition, the compressor system 100 may include a motor 160 that receives an electric current from outside to drive the compressors 110. Here, the compressor system 100 may include a gear unit 150 that connects the compressors 110 to the motor 160.

The motor 160 is connected to a part of the gear unit 150 to transfer a driving power to the first compressor 111 and the second compressor 112. In detail, a shaft of the motor 160 operates in connection with the gear unit 150 to transfer a pivoting force to the first compressor 111 and the second compressor 112.

The gear unit 150 may include a first gear 151 that is provided on the shaft of the motor 160. In addition, the gear unit 150 may include a second gear 152 that is provided on a rotating shaft 120 that is shared by the first and second compressors 111 and 112 and rotates in connection with the first gear 151. The gear unit 150 may further include a third gear 153 that is provided on a connection unit 140 that will be described later and rotates in connection with the first gear 151, in addition to the first gear 151 and the second gear 152.

In addition, the compressor system 100 may include a turbine 133 that generates a driving power via a second fluid that has exchanged heat with the first fluid discharged from the compressors 110. Here, the turbine 133 may generate the driving power from the second fluid that has vaporized.

The turbine 133 may include a case (not shown) to which the second fluid is introduced. In addition, the turbine 133 may include a blade (not shown) that is provided in the case to rotate according to flow of the second fluid that is supplied into the case. Here, the blade may rotate as maintaining a constant rotating speed.

The compressor system 100 may include the connection unit 140 that is directly connected to the turbine 133 and the gear unit 150. Here, the connection unit 140 may include a plurality of shafts 141 and a coupling 142 connecting the plurality of shafts 141 to one another. In particular, one of the plurality of shafts 141 is connected to the blade of the turbine 133, and another of the plurality of shafts 141 may be connected to the third gear 153.

In addition, the compressor system 100 may include a guide vane 180 that regulates an amount of the first fluid that is introduced into the compressors 110. Here, the guide vane 180 may adjust the amount of the first fluid by adjusting an opening degree of a flow path through which the first fluid passes. In particular, the guide vane 180 is the same as or similar to that used in a general compressor system, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted here.

The compressor system 100 may include thermal exchangers 131 and 132, in which the first fluid discharged from the compressors 110 and the second fluid that circulates exchange heat with each other, wherein the thermal exchangers 131 and 132 supply the second fluid that has exchanged the heat to the turbine 133.

There may be a plurality of thermal exchangers 131 and 132. In particular, the plurality of thermal exchangers 131 and 132 may include a first thermal exchanger 131 that is provided on a flow path through which the first fluid transferred from the first compressor 111 to the second compressor 112 moves. In addition, the plurality of thermal exchangers 131 and 132 may include a second thermal exchanger 132 provided on a flow path through which the first fluid discharged from the second compressor 112 passes.

The first thermal exchangers 131 and the second thermal exchanger 132 may perform the heat exchange between the first fluid and the second fluid as described above. Here, the first thermal exchanger 131 may pre-heat the first fluid through the heat exchange between the first fluid and the second fluid. In addition, the second thermal exchanger 132 may vaporize the first fluid through the heat exchange between the first fluid and the second fluid.

In addition, the compressor system 100 may include a condenser 134 that condenses the second fluid that is discharged from the turbine 133. Here, the condenser 134 may condense the second fluid through heat exchange between the second fluid and cooling water, after receiving the cooling water from outside.

Also, the compressor system 100 may include a pump 135 provided between the condenser 134 and the thermal exchangers 131 and 132. Here, the pump 135 may supply the second fluid that is condensed by the condenser 134 to the thermal exchangers 131 and 132.

The compressor system 100 may include a gear box 170 that is provided so as to surround at least a part of the gear unit 150 and the connection unit 140. Here, the first to third gears 151 to 153 are provided in the gear box 170, and the rotating shaft 120 shared by the first compressor 111 and the second compressor 112 and some of the plurality of shafts 141 of the connection unit 140 may be included in the gear box 170. In particular, the gear box 170 may protect the gear unit 150 and the connection unit 140 from a contamination source of the outside by blocking the at least some parts of the gear unit 150 and the connection unit 140 from the outside.

In addition, the compressor system 100 may include a control valve 191 that controls an amount of the first fluid supplied to the turbine 133. Here, the control valve 191 may also control an amount of the second fluid that is discharged from the second thermal exchanger 132 to be supplied to the turbine 133.

Also, the compressor system 100 may include a blow-off valve 192 that controls the amount of the second fluid discharged from the turbine 133. Here, the blow-off valve 192 may be controlled according to an operation of the turbine 133, so as to discharge some of the second fluid provided that a pressure of the second fluid discharged from the turbine 133 is excessively high.

Hereinafter, a method of operating the compressor system 100 will be described in detail below.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operating state of the compressor system 100 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the compressor system 100 operates, the first fluid may be supplied to the first compressor from outside. Here, the first compressor 111 may compress the first fluid and discharge the first fluid to outside, and the first fluid discharged to outside may be supplied to the second compressor 112.

Here, a temperature of the first fluid may vary from a portion of being introduced to the first compressor 111 to a portion of being discharged from the first compressor 111. In detail, the temperature of the first fluid may rise while the first fluid passes through the first compressor 111.

In addition, the temperature of the first fluid that has been supplied to the second compressor 112 may change while the first fluid passes through the second compressor 112. In particular, the temperature of the first fluid that has passed through the second compressor 112 may rise similarly to the case of passing through the first compressor 111. The first fluid that has passed through the second compressor 112 may be discharged to outside or may be supplied to an external device (not shown).

During the above operations, the first fluid discharged from the first compressor 111 may pass through the first thermal exchanger 131 before being supplied to the second compressor 112. Here, the first thermal exchanger 131 may raise the temperature of the second fluid via the thermal exchange between the second fluid and the first fluid.

In addition, the second fluid discharged from the first thermal exchanger 131 may be supplied to the second thermal exchanger 132. Here, the first fluid discharged from the second compressor 112 may exchange heat with the second fluid supplied to the second thermal exchanger 132. In particular, the first fluid may supply thermal energy for vaporizing the second fluid.

The second fluid that has exchanged heat as described above may be vaporized and supplied to the turbine 133. Here, the turbine 133 may operate when the vaporized second fluid passes therethrough. In particular, the second fluid supplied to the turbine 133 may be adjusted by the control valve 191.

On the other hand, the second fluid supplied to the turbine 133 may rotate the blade. Here, the rotating shaft of the turbine 133 connected to the blade may rotate together with the blade.

The blade rotating as above may operate the connection unit 140. In particular, the shaft 141 connected to the blade may be rotated according to the rotation of the blade, and thereby rotating another shaft 141 connected thereto through the coupling 142.

When the shafts 141 are rotated, the third gear 153 is rotated to rotate the first gear 151. In addition, the first gear 151 allows the second gear 152 to rotate, and the second gear 152 makes the rotating shaft 120 shared by the first and second compressors 111 and 112 rotate.

Here, the motor 160 connected to the first gear 151 may rotate the first gear 151 during the above operations. In particular, as described above, the rotating shaft of the motor 160 makes the first gear 151 rotate.

In the above case, the first gear 151 may rotate by receiving the rotating force from the turbine 133, and at the same time, by receiving the rotating force generated according to the operation of the motor 160. In particular, the second gear 152 and the rotating shaft 120 are rotated according to the rotation of the first gear 151, and thus, energy that is necessary to drive the first compressor 111 and the second compressor 112 may be supplied.

Here, since the rotating force generated from the driving of the turbine 133 is supplied to the first gear 151 to make the first gear 151 rotate, the energy required by the motor 160 for making the first gear 151 rotate may be reduced.

In addition, when the compressor system 100 operates as above, the second fluid discharged from the turbine 133 may be condensed while passing through the condenser 134. In addition, the second fluid discharged from the condenser 134 may be supplied to the first thermal exchanger 131 via the pump 135. In particular, the above operations may be continuously performed as long as the first compressor 111 and the second compressor 112 operate.

Therefore, the compressor system 100 may improve the operating efficiency by recovering the waste heat from the first fluid that is discharged from at least one of the first compressor 111 and the second compressor 112.

Moreover, the compressor system 100 may have a simple structure, by transferring the rotating force of the turbine 133 that operates when recovering the waste heat to the rotating shaft 120 via a mechanical coupling structure, not by rotating the motor 160 after generating electric energy from the waste heat recovered from the first fluid, and accordingly, energy loss generating during energy conversion may be minimized.

While the inventive concept has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the embodiments, a compressor system may effectively recover waste heat, and the compressor system according to the embodiments may be applied to all kinds of power generation systems, gas turbine systems, etc. including the compressor system. 

1. A compressor system comprising: a compressor receiving a first fluid from outside and compressing the first fluid; a motor receiving an electric current from outside to drive the compressor; a gear unit for connecting the compressor to the motor; a turbine generating a driving power from a second fluid that has exchanged heat with the first fluid that is discharged from the compressor; and a connection unit directly connected to the turbine and the gear unit.
 2. The compressor system of claim 1, further comprising a thermal exchanger, in which the first fluid discharged from the compressor and the second fluid exchange heat, for supplying the second fluid that has exchanged the heat to the turbine.
 3. The compressor system of claim 2, wherein a plurality of the compressors and a plurality of thermal exchangers are provided, and each of the plurality of thermal exchangers is arranged on a flow path through which the first fluid discharged from each of the plurality of compressors passes.
 4. The compressor system of claim 2, further comprising a condenser for condensing the second fluid discharged from the turbine.
 5. The compressor system of claim 4, further comprising a pump for supplying the second fluid discharged from the condenser to the thermal exchangers.
 6. The compressor system of claim 4, wherein the condenser receives cooling water from outside, and condenses the second fluid through heat exchange between the second fluid and the cooling water.
 7. The compressor system of claim 1, wherein the turbine comprises: a case in which the second fluid is introduced; and a blade provided in the case and rotating according to a flow of the second fluid supplied in the case.
 8. The compressor system of claim 7, wherein the blade rotates at a constant speed.
 9. The compressor system of claim 1, wherein the gear unit comprises: a first gear rotating in direct connection with the motor; a second gear provided on a rotating shaft of the compressors and rotating in connection with the first gear; and a third gear provided on the connection unit and rotating in connection with the first gear.
 10. The compressor system of claim 1, further comprising a gear box provided to surround at least a part of the gear unit and the connection unit.
 11. The compressor system of claim 1, wherein the compressors comprise: a first compressor operating according to movement of the first fluid introduced from outside; and a second compressor rotating coaxially with the first compressor and operating by receiving the first fluid discharged from the first compressor.
 12. The compressor system of claim 1, further comprising a guide vane for controlling an amount of the first fluid introduced into the compressors.
 13. The compressor system of claim 1, further comprising a control valve for controlling an amount of the second fluid supplied to the turbine. 